Blacking-box opener and holder.



V 'V.FRANK. BLAGKING BOX OPENER AND HOLDER.

APPLIOAT ION FILED JAN. 18, 1908.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

IIIFIIIIIIIIII" UNITED STATES VINCENT FRANK, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

BLACKING-BOX OPENER AND HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 18, 1908.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Serial No. 411,433.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT FRANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blacking-Box Openers and Holders, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device for opening a box of blacking or other material.

Another object is to provide such a device to be used repeatedly as desired, so as to avoid soiling the fingers by bringing them in contact with the box and cover.

Still another object is to make a holder for a box and cover which will hold the box open when it is desired to use the contents.

These objects and others will be made apparent in the following specification and claims, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved blacking box opener and holder, shown in operative position with the blacking box open. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the holder when closed; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a detail showing how the members of the holder are hinged together. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modification.

An open box of blacking and the cover therefor are represented by the reference numerals 15 and 16. This box and cover are of the type commonly on the marketa shallow cylindrical box with a cap cover for the open end. As is well-known, it is common to hold the box in one hand while the cover is removed or replaced by the other hand. The operation of removing the cover in this way is sometimes quite difficult because of its sticking to the box. Moreover, the hands of the operator are likely to become soiled by the blacking. My invention is intended to obviate these disadvantages.

A shallow pan .or receptacle with a rim or flange 17 is provided to receive the blacking box 15. The receptacle 17 is extended on one side in a handle 18. The central part of the receptacle is cut away as indicated by the reference numeral 19. A similar receptacle 20 is provided to engage the cover of the blacking box with the flange 20 surrounding the edge thereof. This receptacle 20 has a handle 21 extending from one side thereof opposite the handle 18. A hole 22 is cut in the center of the receptacle. Through this hole any advertising matter printed on the top of the box cover can be read by an observer. It also afiords access for knocking the cover of the box out of the holder. On the side of the receptacle 19 opposite the handle 18 projecting lugs 23 are formed and similar lugs 24 project from the receptacle 20. These lugs 23 and 24 lie past one an other in pairs and a pin 25 extends through the holes 26 in the ends of the lugs 23 and 24. Thus the two receptacle members are hinged together by the pin 25 with its cojoin the respective receptacles opposed registering projections 26 are formed which limit the extent to which the handles 21 and 18 can be brought together.

The two members which, hinged together, constitute my device are each preferably stamped from sheet metal although they may be cast or otherwise formed. The flange or lip that surrounds each of the shallow receptacles is constructed to be slightly elastic and yielding. The size of the lower flange 17 is such that the box of blacking 15 can be crowded tightly within it. Obviously, this may be done while the cover 16 is on the box. Then the opposed receptacle 20 may be crowded down on the cover 16, the size of the elastic flange being such that there will be a tight fit. At this stage the handles 18 and 21 will be positioned close together opposite one another. Thereafter by pulling these handles apart the box 15 will stick to the lower member and the cover 16 will be removed from the box. The box and the cover will remain secured to the respective members as long as the box of blacking is used and at any time the box can be opened and closed by means of the handles 18 and 21. When the box is completely emptied, it and the cover can be knocked down out of their. respective sockets and a new box introduced.

It will be seen that I have provided a de- I vice which may be used to open a box of blacking even though the cover sticks too tightly to be removed by hand and that this of hinge that may be employed, In this acting elements. Near where the handles modification one of the members has an ear or lug 27 having its extreme end rolled over as indicated by the reference numeral 29 and having a slot 28. The other movable member carries a lug 30 having its end rolled over as indicated by the reference numeral 31, and is adapted to extend through the slot 28. It will be seen that the arrangement of these parts is such that the two lugs 27 and 30 can be joined or separated only when the respective members are opened wide apart.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described formed in its entirety of two members, each comprising a circular plate, an integral projecting handle on one side thereof, an integral flange surrounding said circular plate and handle, and an integral hinge member formed on said flange opposite said handle, one of said hinge members being provided with a slot and the other having a part adapted to engage said slot.

2. In a box opener and holder two rela tively movable members, a yielding flange on each of said members, each of said flanges being interrupted at one point.

3. In a box opener and holder, two members each comprising a circular part and an integral handle projecting therefrom, an integral yielding flange surrounding each of said members to respectively fit over a box and its cover, and a hinge connecting the said members.

VINCENT FRANK. Witnesses ANNA L. SAVOIE, LILLIAN KIBBY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

